Every dentist surgery has a dental hygiene nurse; their job is to advise you on the best ways to prevent dental problems. Yet, not many patients actually ask their advice says a Leeds dentist. Oral Hygiene is the most important job we perform each day, if carried out properly then it will keep infections and bad breath away. It will also save us time in the dentist chair and money. There are 24 hours in a day and for the whole of that time out mouths are a hive of activity, most of it working against our teeth. At night our saliva gland sleeps when we sleep, saliva not only helps us swallow food, it also neutralises oral acid that is produced when bad bacteria feeds off fat and sugary debris that is trapped in between our teeth. Throughout the day that bacteria is feeding and producing acid that wears down the enamel on our teeth, so it is important we keep our mouths clean and watered all day and night. Tartar is a by-product of this process and is generally removed when we have our 6 monthly check ups, but in between visits it is eating away at our teeth. Before we brush we need to floss the teeth, this will loosen up the debris and any residue that is left from the night time. Then a vigorous brushing will loosen more, and finally a good rinse will remove the final bits. Throughout the day you can keep acid down by constantly swigging just plain water.
Posts Tagged ‘oral hygiene’
Oral Hygiene and how to achieve it. By a Leeds dentist
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010Dental Implants are all the rage. A Leeds dentist explains why
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
A Leeds dentist has spoken out on the values and advantages of a Dental Implant. They were only developed in the 1960s, but they were an almost instant hit and still are today. The advances these days are so good that the cost and the time involved has been drastically reduced. The biggest asset about them is that once they are in, they need little or no maintenance other than the usual oral hygiene regime of cleaning them affectively. They are for all intents and purposes a fixed artificial tooth or set of teeth, they can be put in as one tooth or as a whole row, and they are better than the original teeth they are replacing. First a plate is inserted under the gum and screwed down to the jaw bone. This is then left to heal and for the bone to grow over the plate, which will have some pre drilled and screwed holes in it. Then posts are screwed into the holes and fixed with a cement to hold them. Once that is finished the ceramic tooth, which is designed from digital pictures of the mouth, is placed onto the post and pushed down into position. The whole process takes around 3-6 months, but once done it is then like having a whole new set of teeth to play with, any damaged ones can be easily replaced in a few weeks. The plates and posts are made from Titanium and they integrate very well with the jaw bone, the ceramic tooth itself looks and acts just like the real thing.
How to prevent tooth and gum disease, by a Central Leeds dentist
Friday, June 11th, 2010
Tooth and gum is so easily prevented, says a Central Leeds dentist. All it takes is a simple regime in oral hygiene care, it doesn’t have to be complicated it just needs to be planned out using good advice that has been well researched. Where do you get this advice from? You can get it from the dental hygiene nurse at your dental practice. Start by getting the right brush for your teeth, then the right paste. It doesn’t have be the most expensive, just the right one. Your friendly chemist will be happy to advise you on that matter, or even better your dentist. Flossing is also important and so is choosing the correct floss, look at the description on the product to see which one is best for you. Saliva helps to keep down acid strength and production, but your saliva gland will stop working while you sleep, so keep water by your bed. Gum disease is mainly caused by a poor or incorrect oral hygiene regime, this will let acid build up and also attract tartar to your teeth, and both of these will result in you losing your teeth earlier than you should. Gum disease has also now been linked to heart and other organ diseases, this is thought to come about as bad bacteria leaks into the blood system and corrupts the cells in the blood. Just by using a bit of common sense and being regular with your dental care regime, you`ll keep gum disease and early tooth loss at bay. Once gum disease starts to recede your gums, the process becomes irreversible and the damage accelerates with devastating and expensive results. Just remember that prevention is always preferable to getting a problem cured, and all it takes with teeth is a good oral hygiene plan and discipline.
Importance of oral hygiene explained by Leeds dentist
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
There are many reasons why dental hygiene is very important. Firstly, the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body. All food goes in through the mouth and it is also used for breathing. Having an unhygienic mouth can expose your body to many bacteria that can live in the mouth if not properly controlled. It is also true that the smell given off by this bacteria can be carried out of the mouth by breathing giving you the unpleasant condition of bad breath. For these reasons, it is important to keep the mouth as clean and fresh as possible.
There are obviously dental reasons for keeping all parts of the mouth clean as well. Teeth and gums can become surrounded in a bacteria-rich substance called plaque if it is not removed. This reacts with the decaying bacteria to release acids that cause a breakdown of the protective enamel layer of the teeth. This is the first step towards tooth decay, infection and ultimately tooth loss. Plaque that builds up on the gums causes irritation and periodontal disease. This can be particularly nasty, causing the gums to bleed and exposing the blood stream to further infection. There is an established link between gum disease and heart disease so there is a real reason to keep your teeth and gums as clean as possible.
Apart from the obvious and serious health consequences you also have to consider the financial cost of poor oral hygeien
Take good care of your teeth with help from Leeds dentist
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Taking good care of your teeth is very important. If you look after your teeth well, they will last you a lifetime but the consequences of ignoring dental hygiene can result in pain, expensive treatment and embarrassing dental conditions. From an early age we are all taught how to clean our teeth and the very good reasons for doing so, but often as people get older they become complacent or forget to look after their teeth as well as they can. Leeds dentists are urging all patients to care more for their teeth and can offer tips at check up appointments, as well as looking for any signs of decay.
The best ways to look after your teeth are to clean them effectively and to see a dentist for a check up every six months. Good oral hygiene involves the routine brushing and flossing of teeth. This will remove bacteria and plaque, which will limit the threat of tooth decay and gum disease. Dentists say you should brush twice a day for at least three minutes. Use a soft-bristled brush for maximum effect. Flossing is also very important as it removes food and plaque form the more hard to reach areas, such as between the teeth.
However, even the most dedicated oral hygiene routine can still come under attack from the menace that is decay. This is why it is so important to see a dentist as often as every six months. This won’t give the decay any chance to take serious hold so treatment can be carried out before the problem has become too severe. Dentists will spot the early signs of decay and can help you to alter your routine to defend against it.
Prevent bad breath for good at Leeds dentist
Friday, May 7th, 2010
In nine cases out of ten, bad breath is a dental problem. This often surprises people as many think it has more to do with diet and digestion problems. But the reality is that more often than not, the problem causing bad breath originates in the oral cavity. This could be due to poor oral hygiene leading to an excess of bacteria and decaying food matter, or even as the result of gum disease which causes an unpleasant odour.
Patients with gum disease often suffer from bad breath because the disease is responsible for releasing a bad smell. Dentists can often diagnose gum disease even before they have properly examined the patient because of the smell coming from their mouth. This kind of bad breath can be treated as a side effect of the gum disease, which may involve some treatment from the dentist as well as improved oral hygiene.
The other main cause of bad breath is not as the result of any other condition but simply caused by insufficient cleaning of the teeth and gums. Food matter that is allowed to stay in the mouth in the small spaces between the teeth, around the base of the teeth and in the small groves of the tongue is acted upon bacteria. This causes the material to decay which releases a nasty sulphurous compound which is carried out on the breath. This kind of bad breath is easily treated with improved cleaning, specifically flossing, which is perfect for removing food from between the teeth. Using a tongue scraper on a regular basis will also help to keep the tongue free of food particles.
To determine the cause of your bad breath and find out the easiest way to prevent it, make an appointment with a Leeds dentist who can offer tips and advise to stop bad breath once and for all.
Brush, floss and scrape with help from Leeds dentist
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Judging by the increasing number of people in the UK who are suffering from dental cavities and gum disease, it would seem that the standards of oral hygiene are slipping. This is more than likely due to complacency when it comes to oral hygiene or even an ignorance of exactly what it takes to care for your teeth properly.
Many people seem to be under the impression that good dental care is just about brushing. There is no doubt that brushing your teeth well is the first line of defence against dental disease and decay, but it is far from the only preventative measure at our disposal. Brushing does remove more plaque and bacteria than any other form of cleaning, but unless you are flossing and using a tongue scraper, you are always going to be fighting something of a losing battle against dental disease. This is because bacteria and plaque often accumulate in areas that are difficult to reach with a conventional brush. These are areas such as the small gaps between the teeth and in the pockets between the teeth and the gum where they meet. Brushing will not remove this plaque and it is allowed to cause damage unchallenged.
Flossing will help to remove bacteria, making you less likely to suffer from dental problems. Tongue scrapers are ideal for removing food and bacteria from the small and moist groves of the tongue. The bristles of a toothbrush are not designed to clean the tongue and will leave bacteria to cause damage in other parts of the mouth. Leeds dentists can offer advice a check up appointments, which are also integral to keeping your mouth healthy and clean.
An end to bad breath at Central Leeds dentist
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
Suffering from bad breath can be very embarrassing, especially as it is often very hard if not impossible to tell if it is affecting you. We’ve all tried the cupping of hands move, or even the licking the arm and smelling it. These don’t really work and often make you look quite foolish. If you know you are susceptible to bad breath this can often affect your confidence when going into certain situations and can cause you to be distracted and undermine your self-esteem.
There are many supposed cures for bad breath such as mouth wash, oral sprays and certain diets but the reality is that these do little more than mask the smell temporarily and in some cases could even make the problem worse. According to dentists, most cases of bad breath originate in the mouth (around ten per cent are concerned with digestion problems) and have to be treated as an oral problem with traditional oral hygiene methods.
The majority of cases of bad breath are caused by either poor standards of oral hygiene. This causes a build up of bacteria and food debris in the mouth, which begins to smell, or as the result of gum disease which also releases a distinct but unpleasant odour.
The best way to treat bad breath and ensure it stays away is to improve how you clean your teeth. Brushing should be carried out effectively for three minutes twice a day and should be followed by flossing. This is very important for keeping bad breath away as it removes trapped food debris form the hard to reach areas of the mouth, such as between the teeth and around the base on the teeth near the gums. Using a tongue scraper to clean the tongue once a week will also remove potential smells form the surface of the tongue. Your Central Leeds dentist will show you how to effectively clean teeth and keep bad breath away at a routine check up appointment.
Central Leeds dentist keeps gums healthy and prevents bad breath
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Bad breath can be caused by a number of factors. A small percentage of cases are caused by digestion problems or other internal concerns but in nearly 90 per cent of cases, it is caused by problems occurring in the oral cavity. This could be the result of poor standards of oral hygiene. Food and bacteria that are trapped in small spaces between the teeth and in the grooves of the tongue will decay and release nasty smelling sulphurous compounds, which are then expelled on the breath. This kind of bad breath can be masked by using oral products, but only temporarily. The only sure-fire cure for this kind of bad breath is to make dramatic improvements in your daily oral hygiene routine and ensure you are brushing and flossing correctly.
The other major cause of bad breath is gum disease. Dentists can often tell that patients are suffering from gum disease even before they have examined them properly. This is because gum disease lets out a very distinctive odour, caused by bacteria and decaying gum tissue. Gum disease is again caused buy poor standards of oral hygiene and insufficient brushing and flossing. Nearly three quarters of adults in the UK will suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives so it is definitely a problem that we all need to be concerned about.
Gum disease is usually mild, known as gingivitis, and can be cleared up with an improvement in cleaning techniques and some treatment from a Central Leeds dentist. However, if the gum disease is allowed to progress unchecked it may become the more serious periodontitis, which will certainly need more extensive treatment. As you might expect, the bad breath becomes more of a problem as the gum disease becomes more serious, so if you have noticed that you have bad breath it is always a good idea to go to the dentist for a check up to ensure the health of your gums.
Get rid of bad breath caused by gum disease at Leeds dentist
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Bad breath is an unpleasant and embarrassing dental condition and social problem. The worst thing about it is that it is very difficult to tell if you have bad breath without being told about it. There are a number of causes of bad breath including oral bacteria living on food trapped in between the teeth, digestion problems and also from gum disease.
The smell coming from a person’s mouth who has active gum disease, or periodontitis as it is otherwise known, is so distinctive a Leeds dentist can correctly anticipate the problem before they have even started to examine the patient. Gum disease is typically more of a problem the older we get, with patients over the age of 35 being particularly at risk. This means that bad breath caused by gum disease is also a risk factor the older we get.
Gum disease is a bacterial infection that takes hold in the gum tissue that surrounds the teeth. It forms in the pockets that exist between the teeth and the gums and can cause irritation, bleeding and even tooth loss if not treated early enough. It is the bacteria that cause the infection that are responsible for the bad odour that causes bad breath.
Gum disease that causes bad breath can be treated with help from the dentist and with improved cleaning and oral hygiene. Better brushing and particularly flossing can help to remove bacteria, even from the small pockets that exist at the base of the tooth and gum.